Fernando Alonso dreaming big after Alpine 'brave guess'

Singapore Grand Prix

Alonso dreaming big after Alpine 'brave guess'

Alonso lined up fifth at Singapore after another brilliant wet-weather performance

Ewan Gale

Saturday 1 October 2022 22:08

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Fernando Alonso is 'dreaming big' ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix after taking a 'brave guess' during difficult conditions in qualifying.

A rain storm in the afternoon drenched the Marina Bay Circuit and forced the drivers into missing half of final practice.

But despite there being no rainfall in the two hours separating FP3 from qualifying, a lack of sunlight and wind left the track surface damp, particularly on the newly resurfaced patches of tarmac.

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As the track slowly dried, drivers switched to slick tyres despite wet patches persisting throughout Q3, the decision paying off for Alonso who qualified fifth.

"It was stressful, no doubt, borderline to be enjoyable because the level of risk was quite high," said the Alpine driver.

"When we fitted the dry tyres in Q3, it was a brave move because it was just a guess. It eventually was the right decision.

"To go every lap faster and faster than the lap before, going to the corner just hoping the car will stay on track or that the track would be drier than a minute and a half ago when you went through that corner, it is just a lot of stress.

"Hopefully tomorrow, a little bit calmer."

Beating McLaren the "main target"

Alonso has regularly pushed the A522 into the higher reaches of the top 10 this season, especially in difficult conditions, with a front-row qualifying performance at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Similar weather is expected for Sunday's race and discussing his prospects, the two-time champion explained: "If it is dry, it will be difficult to overtake so it would be nice to secure the top five and score more points than McLaren, which will be the main target again.

"If wet, obviously there are a lot of things that could happen. It could be a very good race for us or very bad. Maybe it could be a DNF.

"There is a lot of risk if it is wet tomorrow but we are only two races away from the podium so why not dream big?"